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Technical Assistance

There is a wide range of resources available to project managers who wish to implement a Triad approach.

The purpose of this section is to provide technical assistance resources that can be used by program managers attempting to implement the Triad.

Triad Background Information

• There are a variety of Triad-related materials available through EPA's Hazardous Waste Clean-up Information (CLU-IN) web site http://www.clu-in.org. These include various paper reprints and EPA documents (including case studies) that provide general Triad information.



• The Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) has prepared a document entitled, "Technical and Regulatory Guidance for the Triad Approach: A New Paradigm for Environmental Project Management." This document is designed to acquaint state regulators with key Triad concepts and benefits, and address some expected State regulator concerns. It is available on the ITRC website at http://www.itrcweb.org under "Guidance Documents."

Systematic Planning

• Further information about EPA's Data Quality Objective (DQO) process can be found at http://www.epa.gov/quality/dqos.html. The DQO process in general is applicable to Triad projects, with the following two caveats:



• The DQO process is focused on data generation and use. Triad systematic planning broadens to include other project activities.



• DQO-related guidance relies a great deal on classical statistics and hypothesis testing. These may or may not be applicable depending on the actual project goals and decisions to be made. Triad projects always ground selection and implementation of statistical procedures on both the project-specific CSM and specific project decisions. Remember that many common statistical procedures rest on assumptions of homogeneity that are violated by the spatial patterning of contamination usually found at contaminated sites, and statistical procedures structured around determining an average contaminant concentration may not be helpful when gathering data to refine a CSM, to meet certain regulatory standards, or to design remedial actions.



• The United States Army Corps of Engineers has developed the Technical Project Planning process to assist in systematic planning of data collection activities. The TPP manual is available at the following URL: http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/eng-manuals/em200-1-2/toc.htm.



• EPA agency-wide quality system documents can be found at http://www.epa.gov/quality/qa_docs.html.



• The EPA is currently developing a document that provides useful information pertinent to contracting for Triad-based projects. This document will be available in 2004.

Dynamic Work Strategies

• EPA's Superfund program has developed a document entitled "Using Dynamic Field Activities for On-Site Decision Making: A Guide for Project Managers." This document discusses the use of field methods in a dynamic context and demonstrates EPA's acceptance of dynamic approaches to Superfund project management. Case study examples of Superfund projects using dynamic work strategies in the 1990s are covered in Chapter V, with more detailed case study discussions available as separate documents. The guidance and case studies can be accessed through the Superfund Dynamic Field Activities homepage at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/dfa/index.htm.

Real-Time Measurement Systems

• The EPA CLU-IN web site maintains a listing of field analytical technologies (the Field Analytical Technology Encyclopedia, or FATE) at http://fate.cluin.org. FATE currently covers 15 technology classes ranging from colorimetric indicator tests to X-ray fluorescence.



• The Federal Remediation Round Table (FRTR) web site also has a listing of innovative characterization technologies that can be accessed at http://www.frtr.gov/site/.



• While the RCRA SW-846 methods catalog is primarily focused on standard laboratory analyses, there are a number of real-time techniques such as XRF and immunoassay test kits that are included as well. A complete listing of SW-846 technologies can be found at http://www.epa.gov/SW-846/.



• The EPA Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program maintains a set of reports on characterization, remediation, and monitoring technologies that have been profiled by the SITE program. These include some real-time measurement systems. SITE can be reached at http://www.epa.gov/ORD/SITE/reports.html.



• The EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program also has information pertinent to alternative real-time measurement system performance, and can be found at http://epa.gov/etv/verifications/verification-index.html.

Related ASTM Standards

There are a number of ASTM standards pertinent to Triad-related activities. Some care should be taken in applying ASTM standards for Triad projects. ASTM standards reflect best practices current at the time of publication. The technology base that supports the Triad (e.g., real-time measurement systems) has been evolving rapidly. This fact, coupled with site-specific requirements, may require modification to ASTM guidelines. ASTM standards can be ordered through ASTM's web site, http://www.astm.org.

• The ASTM has published a standard for conducting Expedited Site Characterization work (D6235-98a).



• The ASTM has published a standard for accelerated site characterization of suspected petroleum releases (E1912-98).



• The ASTM has published a standard for developing conceptual site models (E1689).

General Characterization/Remediation Resources

• The EPA National Exposure Research Laboratory has published a CD-ROM called "Site Characterization Library, Volume 1, Release 2.5" that includes a wide range of general information pertinent to hazardous waste site characterization activities. The CD-ROM can be ordered from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (1-800-490-9198, or http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom).

Training

• EPA maintains a listing of courses available to staff of EPA and other federal, state, tribal, and local governmental agencies involved in hazardous waste management and remediation (see The Training Exchange website at http://trainex.org).



• Live Internet-based, on-line training is also periodically available as announced through the EPA Technology Innovation Program's TechDirect monthly list serve/newsletter and on the CLU-IN website (in the "Studio" section at http://www.clu-in.org/studio/seminar.cfm). Users can sign up to receive the electronic TechDirect newsletter by visiting the CLU-IN website at http://cluin.org/newsletters/. Recorded archives of past live Internet seminar deliveries are accessible anytime through this URL: http://cluin.org/live/archive.cfm.

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